Graze Box + Friend Code!

I'm not sure how I came along Graze, but I'm very happy I did! For those of you who don't know what Graze is, it's basically a subscription box that's gives you four snacks tailored just for you! When you sign up for Graze, you are able to pick which snacks you want to trash, try, like, or love. You can trash any snacks that don't sound appealing to you or snacks that go against your diet restrictions. You can also pick how often you want your Graze box delivered to you and where you want it delivered (work or home). You are totally in control and you can cancel anytime!

I ordered my first box about 10 days ago and shipping was pretty quick given that it was free! I did trash a couple of things I knew I would not like before getting my first box and with that, I lowered my snack pool to about 56. Below are the snacks I was sent!

The snacks I received were: Key Lime Pie, Florentine, Fruit and Seed Flapjack, and Tomato and Basil Pizza! So far, I've tried the flapjack and pizza and THEY ARE SO GOOD.  My mom loves the flapjack because it's a healthy granola bar! I have yet to taste Florentine which contains pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate bits. I'm kind of iffy about the Key Lime Pie because it has dried grapes and mini meringues, which I'm not too fond of. I thought I trashed the Key Lime Pie, but I guess I didn't! Most of Graze's snacks are known to be delicious so I'm not too worried about it tasting gross. 

With every box, comes a friend code! Use my friend code to get your first and fifth box free :) Trust me, you won't regret subscribing to this box. If you do order your first box (free with the code), and you don't like it, you can cancel right away!

My friend code: MISBAH6CP or just go here.

~Misbah

Parmesan and Herb Bread Recipe

Hello everyone! It's been a dreary Sunday - rainy and cloudy all day so it felt like it was 6pm when I woke up at 10am. My mother recently found a bunch of sweet and savory bread recipes from her Food Network magazine! She suggested I try one and I decided to go with a savory recipe.

Things I Learned While Going Through an Extremely Stressful and Difficult Time

1. It's okay if you make a B on a test, especially when you know you have worked and studied hard. Success comes after failures. 

2. Sometimes, you need to leave things in God's hands. Stop worrying and stressing. Do as much as you can and leave the rest in God’s hands.

3. Take a break and relax. Put the work aside and take a walk outside, watch some television, talk with your family and friends. Just relax.

4. It's okay to dress like a hobo. If your future spouse sees you one day without you knowing who they are, then they wouldn't mind if you dressed a certain way. After all, they will be your future spouse.

5. Read your holy book. It might just inspire you, enlighten you, or even lift the heavy weight you carry around with you.

Misbah's Advice: How to Really Study for Midterms/Exams/Finals

I can't believe it's already the middle of the semester! University seems to be going by fairly quickly - or maybe it's just the super busy schedule I've had recently... Regardless, I have my first midterm tomorrow in psychology and I seem to be prepared for it. I'm still kind of stressed out because I get stressed out at the sound of any test, especially now that my enrollment into university is on the line. I decided it was the best time of the year to advise others about my study tips that will {hopefully} enable you to earn an "A" on your midterm, tests, or final exams! 

1) Always review your notes after class and before the next class.

Ebbinghaus theorized that the most forgetting takes place right after we learn something. So, if you're reviewing your notes on a daily basis, you are able to retain that memory a lot easier. Also, it makes it easier for you to study when you do have a test because you already know most of the material. Also, when I was in Ready, Set, Teach; we were told to reinforce the main idea in our lesson plans three times. We did this because it takes three times to fully remember and ingrain an idea. So keep on reading, rereading, and rereading! 

2) Study at least 4-5 days in advance.

I like to study four days in advance, sometimes five if there is a lot of material to cover. It's proven that if you study collectively (meaning, you study over the course of a few days) and then reserve one day to review, you will retain more info and you will be able to recall that memory easier. So studying the night before or a couple of days before and cramming material in will not help you. It will only hurt you. 

3) Pulling an all-nighter will hurt you more than you think.

Sleep deprivation lowers your ability to recall stored memory. So, you may seem cool to your friends when you brag about the all-nighter you pulled for that Bio exam, but in reality, you know you totally bombed that exam because you couldn't remember anything regardless of studying all night. The best remedy for recalling studied material is to study it collectively and to get eight hours of sleep each night and before test day. Your body needs those eight hours in order to process and store all that information into sturdy memory! 

4) Write and do not type.

Studies have shown that retention is better when you are writing your notes. The muscle movements send signals to the brain which help you remember the information you are learning. So next time you're in class, bust out that notebook and pen. Typing on a computer will only hinder your ability to learn correctly. If you're in a class where your professor talks too fast and typing is the easiest solution to get everything they are saying, I would still recommend writing but also invest in a sound recorder or just use the sound recorder on your phone! This way, if you miss anything, you will be able to go back to the lecture and fill in holes! 

5) Go to the review sessions!!!

Review sessions may not seem helpful, but sometimes, professors will give subtle hints as to what is on the test. Going to that review session may seem painful because you could be doing other things, but what if that session was able to earn you an "A"? I always go the review sessions because it makes me feel more comfortable with the material on the test. My professors tell me exactly what's on it and some even give out a couple of questions from it! 

6) Relax before the test.

If you've studied well, gotten enough sleep, and you know everything there is to know, then relax. Drink some tea, slap on a face mask, and just sit back and relax for a moment. Breathe deeply and do some stellar yoga poses. Just relax for just a moment. Sometimes, we stress out and freak out right before the test. What's even worse is when that freakout causes you to suddenly forget all the material you just learned! DON'T PANIC. It will come to you if you just take a breather and relax. You've done your share, now it's up to your brain to recall all that memory from your very sturdy engram. 

Good luck on everyone who has midterms coming up! MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU. 

~Misbah